What will new aide coach?

Randy Moore

01/13/2004

Tennessee's newest assistant football coach has an impressive track record
working with wide receivers, yet he may not coach wideouts for the Vols.

Trooper Taylor, who joined the UT staff this week after a five-year stint at
Tulane, produced the NCAA's top receiving trio in 2001. Adrian Burnette,
Kerwin Cook and Terrell Harris combined to lead the country with 2,384
receiving yards on 185 catches that season. Two years earlier, Burnett and
JaJuan Dawson were the only Div. 1-A receiving duo to each gain more 1,000
yards.

In spite of these glowing credentials, Taylor may not be coaching UT's
wideouts. Hired to replace Woody McCorvey, who coached Vol running backs
before leaving last month to become offensive coordinator at Mississippi State, Taylor may assume Tennessee's tailbacks and fullbacks.

John Painter, UT sports information director for football, said Tuesday
afternoon that head coach Phillip Fulmer had not yet announced whether
Taylor will coach receivers or running backs. Apparently, the Vol boss is
still mulling his options. If Taylor is put in charge of wideouts, current
WR coach Pat Washington likely will work with UT's running backs.

A 1992 Baylor graduate, Taylor finished his playing career as the school's
career leader in kickoff returns (53) and return yardage (1,063). He joined
the coaching staff at his alma mater following graduation, and spent two
seasons as a graduate assistant before being named wide receivers coach in
1994. He then coached Baylor's secondary for two years before returning to
the wide receivers for one year.

Before joining the staff at Tulane, Taylor spent the 1998 season as running
backs coach at New Mexico. Thus, his resume' shows seven years coaching
receivers and only one year coaching running backs. The question is: Which
will he coach at Tennessee?